KRS 160.1590: Definitions for KRS 160.1590 to 160.1599.

As used in KRS 160.1590 to 160.1599:

(1) "Achievement gap" means the difference between performance goals and actual

performance on state standardized examinations and other academic performance

measures for subgroups of students, especially groups defined by socioeconomic

status, race, and ethnicity;

(2) "Applicant" means an eligible person or persons, organization, or entity that seeks

approval from a charter school authorizer to establish a public charter school;

(3) "Charter application" means a proposa l from an applicant to an authorizer to enter

into a charter contract whereby the proposed school obtains public charter school

status;

(4) "Charter contract" or "contract" means a fixed -term, renewable contract between a

charter school and an authorizer t hat identifies the roles, powers, responsibilities,

and performance expectations for each party to the contract pursuant to KRS

160.1596;

(5) "Charter school board of directors" means the independent board of a public charter

school that is party to the ch arter contract with the authorizer and whose members

have been elected or selected pursuant to the school's application;

(6) "Conversion public charter school" means a public charter school that existed as a

noncharter public school prior to becoming a public charter school;

(7) "District of location" means the public school district in which a public charter

school is physically located;

(8) "Education service provider" means an education management organization, school

design provider, or any other partne r entity with which a public charter school

contracts for educational design, implementation, or comprehensive management;

(9) "Local school board" or "local board" means a school board exercising management

and control of a local school district;

(10) "Local school district" means a county or independent school district as identified in

KRS 160.010 and 160.020;

(11) "Parent" means a parent, guardian, or other person or entity having legal custody of

a child;

(12) "Proportionate per pupil basis" means multiplying an amount of funds by a fraction,

with the numerator being the average daily attendance of the public charter school,

and the denominator being the average daily attendance of the school district of

location;

(13) "Proportionate per pupil transporte d basis" means multiplying an amount of funds

by a fraction, with the numerator being the aggregate daily attendance of students

transported by a public charter school, and the denominator being the aggregate

daily attendance of students transported by the school district of location;

(14) "Public charter school" means a public school that:

(a) Is a public body corporate and politic, exercising public power, including the

power in name to contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued, and adopt

bylaws not inconsistent with this section;

(b) Has autonomy over decisions, including but not limited to matt ers concerning

finance, personnel, scheduling, curriculum, and instruction;

(c) Is governed by an independent board of directors;

(d) Is established and operating under the terms of a charter contract between the

public charter school's board of directors and its authorizer;

(e) Is a public school to which parents choose to send their children;

(f) Is a public school that admits students on the basis of a random and open

lottery if more students apply for admission than can be accommodated;

(g) Offers a comprehensive instructional program to enrolled students;

(h) Operates in pursuit of a specific set of educational objectives as defined in its

charter contract; and

(i) Operates under the oversight of its authorizer in accordance with its charter

contract;

(15) "Public charter school authorizer" or "authorizer" means an entity or body that

reviews, approves, or denies charter applications, enters into charter contracts with

applicants, oversees public charter schools, and renews, does not renew, or revokes

charter contracts. Authorizers shall include:

(a) A local school board of a local school district, which shall only have authority

to approve charter applications within the boundaries of its district;

(b) A collaborative among local school boards that forms to set up a regional

public charter school to be located within the area managed and controlled by

those local school boards;

(c) The mayor of a consolidated local government, who shall be considered an

authorizer governing board for the purposes of KRS 1 60.1590 to 160.1599

and who may only authorize public charter schools to be physically located

within the county in which the city is located and who has submitted a written

notice to the state board that he or she intends to serve as an authorizer; and

(d) The chief executive officer of an urban -county government, who shall be

considered an authorizer governing board for the purposes of KRS 160.1590

to 160.1599 and who may only authorize public charter schools to be

physically located within the county in which the city is located and who has

submitted a written notice to the state board that he or she intends to serve as

an authorizer;

(16) "Qualified teacher" means a person certified by the Education Professional

Standards Board pursuant to KRS 161.028, 161.030, 161.046, or 161.048;

(17) "State board" means the Kentucky Board of Education;

(18) "Student" means any child who is eligible for attendance in a public school in

Kentucky;

(19) "Urban academy" means a public charter school that includes an enroll ment

preference for students who live in close proximity to the school as defined in the

charter contract; and

(20) "Virtual public charter school" means a public charter school that offers educational

services primarily or completely through an online program.